Unpacking firmware for Xiaomi devices is a key step before installing custom software, rolling back on the old version or restoring the brick. Many users face problems: archives do not open, files are damaged, and tools give out invalid image format or signature verification failed.
In this article, we will analyze all current methods of unpacking firmware - from standard ZIP-archives to the corporate formats.tgz,.img and payload.bin. You will learn what tools to use for different types of files, how to avoid errors in extraction, and what to do if the firmware “does not want” to unpack.
What firmware formats Xiaomi uses and how they differ
Xiaomi releases firmware in several formats, each of which requires a different approach to unpacking.
- 📦 ZIP-Archives – standard format for global (Global) and European (EEA) Firmware, it contains files. system.img, boot.img and other sections.
- 🗄️ TGZ-Archives – compressed tar archives, often used for developers firmware (Developer) ROM). Requires two-step unpacking.
- 🔧 Payload.bin — proprietary format for firmware through fastboot. Contains all partitions in one file, unpacked with special utilities.
- 💾 IMG-files – images of individual sections (for example, vendor.img or recovery.img). You can install or unpack separately.
The most difficult for beginners - format payload.bin. It is a container with multiple partition images packaged into a single file, and cannot be unpacked with standard archivers like WinRAR or 7-Zip — You will need specialised tools like Payload Dumper or MIUI Downloader.
It's important to understand that not all firmware can be unpacked. For example, some versions of China Stable. ROM They are encrypted using Xiaomi private keys, and they cannot be unpacked without official tools, in such cases, only installation via fastboot or Mi Flash Tool without first extracting files is left.
Preparing for unpacking: tools and file verification
Before you start unpacking, make sure you have everything you need:
- 🖥️ Windows computer 10/11, macOS or Linux (some tools are cross-platform, but most are optimized for Windows).
- 📁 Archivators: 7-Zip (for ZIP/TGZ), WinRAR (alternative), PeaZip (for the Linux/macOS).
- 🛠️ Specialized utilities: Payload Dumper (for payload.bin) MIUI bootloader (download and unpack official firmware) Android Image Kitchen (for working with the software) boot.img and recovery.img)
- 🔍 Checking hash sums: utilities MD5 & SHA Checksum Utility or Certutil in Windows (certutil command) -hashfile file MD5).
Warning: Never unpack firmware on a disk with a file system FAT32. This format does not support files larger than this. 4 GB, and images. system.img They often exceed that limit. NTFS (Windows or ext4 (Linux).
⚠️ Note: If you downloaded firmware from third resources (not the official site of Xiaomi or Xiaomi Community), be sure to check the hash amount of the file with the reference.
To verify the integrity of the file:
- Download the official firmware from the Xiaomi Firmware website.
- Find the file with the extension.md5 or.sha256 near the firmware archive.
- Compare the hash amount of the downloaded file with the reference (for example, via certutil) -hashfile miui_ZIP.zip SHA256).
Download the official firmware from a verified source|
Install 7-Zip WinRAR|
Prepare at least 10 GB of free space for NTFS-disk|
Contrast the hash sum of the file with the reference|
Download Payload Dumper (if firmware is in the format) payload.bin)-->
Unpacking ZIP and TGZ-Archives: Step-by-step instructions
Xiaomi’s standard firmware in.zip or.tgz format is the easiest to unpack. Here’s how to do it correctly:
1. Unpacking ZIP-archive
Most of the global firmware comes in the form of ZIP-For the extraction of the archive:
- Right-click on the file miui_*.zip and select 7-Zip → Unpack here.
- If the archive is password protected (rarely, but it does), try standard combinations like xiaomi or 123456.
- Check the contents of the folder: there must be files system.img, boot.img, vendor.img sectional.
2. Unpacking TGZ-archive (two-stage)
The.tgz format is a compressed.tar archive to unpack:
- Rename the file from.tgz to.tar.gz (if you have a file name). 7-Zip does not automatically recognize the format).
- Unpack the archive twice: First time: Remove.tar from.gz. Second time: unpack the resulting.tar into a folder.
This will give you a file structure similar to ZIP-firmware.
If you unpack.tgz with a Unexpected end of archive error, it is likely that the file is not fully downloaded. Reload the download or use a download manager like Internet Download Manager (IDM).
⚠️ Note: Some.tgz firmware contains hidden files (e.g..gitattributes). Make sure your archiver shows hidden items, otherwise some of the data may be lost.
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If 7-Zip does not recognize the.tgz format, try using the PeaZip utility or command in the Linux/macOS: tar -xzvf file.
How to unpack payload.bin: tools and nuances
File. payload.bin — It's a container that contains all the firmware partitions in one file, and it can't be unpacked with standard archivers. You'll need specialized tools:
| Tool. | Platform | Features | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payload Dumper | Windows/Linux | Unpacking. payload.bin In separate.img files. Supports firmware MIUI 10+. | XDA |
| MIUI Downloader | Windows | Downloads and automatically unpacks official firmware, including payload.bin. | Official website |
| Python-script (payload_dumper.py) | Any (requires Python 3) | It works with all versions of firmware. | GitHub |
Instructions for unpacking via Payload Dumper:
- Download and unpack Payload Dumper into a separate folder.
- Place the file. payload.bin same-folder.
- Launch it. payload_dumper.exe (for Windows) or script payload_dumper.sh (for Linux/macOS).
- Wait until the process is complete. Files will appear in the output folder. system.img, vendor.img others.
To install.img in Windows:
- Use the OSFMount or ImDisk utility.
- Select a file system.img mount it as Read-Only (to avoid data corruption).
- Image file system - usually ext4 or f2fs. Windows will require a driver to read Ext2Fsd.
To decompress.img into the file structure:
- Download Android Image Kitchen (XDA).
- Place it. boot.img or recovery.img folder split_img.
- Run the script. unpackimg.bat (Windows or./unpackimg.sh (Linux/macOS).
- In a file. split_img ramdisk.cpio, kernel and other image components.
⚠️ Note: Not all.img files can be unpacked, vendor.img often contains proprietary binary files that are not amenable to modification. Attempting to change such files can lead to a device blink.
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For editing boot.img (For example, to install Magisk, use only proven tools like Magisk Manager or AIK (Android Image Kitchen.Manual file modification can disrupt system boot.
Frequent unpacking errors and how to fix them
Even experienced users face problems when unpacking Xiaomi firmware, and consider the most common errors and their solutions:
| Mistake. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Archive is corrupted (in Russian) 7-Zip) | The file is not fully downloaded or corrupted. | Reload, use the download manager (IDM). Check the hash sum. |
| Invalid image format (in Payload Dumper) | Incompatible version of the firmware or damaged payload.bin. | Update Payload Dumper or use Python script. Download the firmware again. |
| Not enough space when unpacking | Less than 10 GB of free disk space or file system FAT32. | Free up space or use the disk with NTFS/ext4. |
| Signature verification failed | The firmware is modified or downloaded from an unofficial source. | Download the firmware from the official Xiaomi website or check the signature via fastboot. |
If you see an error in the Unsupported compression method when unpacking.tgz, it means that the archive is compressed in a non-standard way.
- Use PeaZip instead of PeaZip 7-Zip.
- V Linux/macOS Follow the command: gzip -d file.tgz &&tar -xvf file
Another common problem is that files are missing after unpacking, and this happens if:
- 🗑️ The archiver does not show hidden files (enable display in settings).
- 🔍 The firmware is designed for another device (check the model in the file name, for example, miui_HM2013023_*.zip for Redmi Note 12).
- 📉 The file is unpacked into a temporary folder (check the settings of the archiver).
Security: How to Avoid Fake Firmware and Viruses
One of the biggest risks when working with firmware is downloading fake or infected files, and scammers often disguise malware as official Xiaomi firmware.
- 🔗 Download firmware only from official sources: Official site Xiaomi Firmware. XDA Developers (partition of your model) Telegram channels of custom firmware developers (for example, Pixel Experience or LineageOS).
- 🛡️ Check the hash amounts (as described above).
- 🔍 Use antivirus to scan downloaded files (for example, VirusTotal).
- 📌 Check file size against reference. Fake firmware often weighs significantly less (e.g. 500MB instead of 2-3GB).
Warning: Never install firmware unpacked from files with the.exe or.bat extension. Xiaomi's official firmware is only available in.zip,.tgz or.bin formats. Executable extension files almost always contain viruses.
If you downloaded firmware from a torrent tracker or file sharing app, be sure to:
- Check the comments of other users (if there are any complaints about viruses).
- Run the file through SandBoxie or the virtual machine before unpacking.
- Compare the file structure with the reference firmware (should be system.img, boot.img etc.).
⚠️ Attention: Some custom firmware contains backdoors or spyware. If you're not sure about the source, you should refrain from installing it).